2020 in Seychelles

Events in the year 2020 in Seychelles.

← 2019 2018 2017 2020 in Seychelles → 2021 2022 2023
Decades:	2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	Other events of 2020 Timeline of Seychellois history

Incumbents

• President: Danny Faure

Events

March

• 9 March – The country, ahead of the planned arrival of the Norwegian Spirit, announced a temporary closing for cruise ships. Individuals travelling from China, South Korea, Italy, and Iran were also banned with an exception for returning residents.^[1]
• 14 March – The country reported its first two cases of COVID-19. The two individuals had been in contact with a person in Italy who tested positive.^[2]

April

• 8 April – After a 26-year-old man working at Seychelles International Airport tested positive for COVID-19 on April 6, a travel ban order came into effect in the country. The measure was maintained for 21 days and excluded essential service workers.^[3]
• 28 April – President Danny Faure announced a lifting of some of the lockdown measures that were put in place to forestall the further spread of the pandemic.^[4]

May

• 4 May – All restrictions on the movement of people were lifted and all shops were allowed to open until 20:00. Air Seychelles also resumed domestic flights.^[4][5]
• 9 May – The government extended the ban on cruise ships from entering Port Victoria until the end of 2021.^[6]
• 11 May – The first schools in the country re-opened.^[4]
• 18 May – All 11 previously confirmed cases in the country recovered, resulting in the government declaring the country free of COVID-19. As a result of the declaration, all schools in the country were re-opened.^[7][4]

June

• 1 June – After its lockdown on 9 April, the National Museum reopened to the public, making the country the first in Eastern Africa to reopen its museum during the pandemic. All travel restrictions also ended following the reopening of the airport.^[8][4]

August

• 5 August – The Netherlands and Luxembourg were removed from the list of countries whose citizens could enter the country, while Tunisia was added to it.^[9]
• 11 August – The Seychelles International Airport was opened to scheduled traffic after being closed in March.^[10]
• 17 August – Belgium, Cuba, France and Malta were removed from the list of travel permitted countries while Portugal was added to it.^[11]
• 24 August – Tunisia was again removed from the list of travel permitted countries while Singapore was added to it.^[12]
• 31 August – Qatar and Cambodia were added to the list of travel permitted countries and South Korea was removed from it.^[13]

References

1. Ernesta, Sharon (9 March 2020). "Seychelles closes cruise ship season amidst fears of COVID–19". Seychelles News Agency. from the original on 10 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
2. Bonnelame, Betyme (14 March 2020). "2 Seychellois test positive for COVID-19 as globe-sweeping virus reaches island nation". Seychelles News Agency. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
3. Bonnelame, Betyme (8 April 2020). . Seychelles News Agency. Archived from the original on 16 April 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
4. "Seychelles and COVID-19: Movement restrictions to be lifted next week; schools, daycare to reopen later in May". Seychelles News Agency. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
5. "Announcements". Retrieved 8 June 2020.
6. http://www.nation.sc/articles/4579/cruise-ship-calls-banned-for-two-years Cruise ship calls banned for two years
7. "The Seychelles has reopened to tourists – but only to those travelling by private jet". The National. 3 June 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
8. "Seychelles prepares the reopening of its National Museum during the COVID-19 pandemic". UNESCO. 2020-05-28. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
9. "Public Health Authority issues latest list of countries from which visitors are permitted in Seychelles". Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Seychelles. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
10. Bonnelame, Betyme (29 July 2020). "Tourists flying to Seychelles after Aug. 1 re-opening must have recent COVID-19 test". Seychelles News Agency. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
11. "Public Health Authority issues latest list of countries from which visitors are permitted in Seychelles". Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Seychelles. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
12. "List of countries from which visitors are permitted to enter Seychelles". Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Seychelles. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
13. "Public Health Authority issues latest list of countries from which visitors are permitted in Seychelles". Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Seychelles. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.